Nauru Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Nauru?

Geography - note

world's smallest island country; situated just 53 km south of the Equator; Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia

Climate

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Nauru Use of Natural Resources

Nauru Environment

Climate:

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain:

sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Natural Resources:

phosphates, fish

Natural Hazards:

periodic droughts

Environmental Issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment - International Agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Nauru Geography

Geographic Location Oceania
Total Area 8 Square Miles
21 Square Kilometers
Land Area 8 Square Miles
21 Square Kilometers
Coastline 19 Miles
30 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Terrain sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Highest Point 61 Meters
Highest Point Location unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Lowest Point Location Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources phosphates, fish
Time Zone UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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